– 1 1/4 cups brown or green lentils – 3 tbsp vegetable oil – 1 small onion – 4 garlic cloves garlic – 2 carrots — diced (around 1 cup) – 10 oz potatoes – 1 cup tomato sauce – 1 tsp salt – 1/4 tsp black pepper – 1/4 tsp thyme – 1/4 tso oregano – 1/4 tsp cumin – 4 cups vegetable — or chicken stock – fresh herbs for garnishing — optional